Tribunal Dismisses Saraki’s Application on Jurisdiction

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, has dismissed the application of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, seeking the Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself from further presiding over his trial.

Umar dismissed the application on the grounds that it lacked merit.

Ajibola Oluyede, counsel to the Senate President, had on the 20th of April, 2016 filed the application requesting that Umar recuse himself from chairing the trial on the grounds that Saraki would not get justice at the tribunal if Umar continued to preside.

He premised his argument on the grounds that since the EFCC was investigating Umar and EFCC investigated the case, his client would not get justice at the tribunal.

However, the tribunal, in its ruling, held that the chairman was not currently under any investigation, adding that the issue of any investigation or case to answer was over.

Umar said following a petition to the then Attorney General of the Federation in 2014, the EFCC was directed to investigate him. He said after a thorough investigation, the EFCC came out to say the allegation was a mere suspicion.

He further stated that the chairman of the tribunal has been exonerated by the commission in a letter dated 5th of March 2015.

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